. The Italy of the Italians. these feste it is no exaggeration to say that notonly each of the hundred Italian cities has its own, alwaysquite individual and different from that of the others,but even every little village. This variety is mostly inducedby the circumstance that each inhabited centre has its localsaint, popularly known as its celestial patron. Thus,Rome has St. Peter, Milan St. Ambrose, Florence St Johnthe Baptist, Venice St. Mark, Palermo St. Rosalia, NaplesSt. Januarius. There are few of these fetes which cannot betraced back in origin to pagan times, and in many casestheir mo
. The Italy of the Italians. these feste it is no exaggeration to say that notonly each of the hundred Italian cities has its own, alwaysquite individual and different from that of the others,but even every little village. This variety is mostly inducedby the circumstance that each inhabited centre has its localsaint, popularly known as its celestial patron. Thus,Rome has St. Peter, Milan St. Ambrose, Florence St Johnthe Baptist, Venice St. Mark, Palermo St. Rosalia, NaplesSt. Januarius. There are few of these fetes which cannot betraced back in origin to pagan times, and in many casestheir modern expression is but a Christian adaptation of theolder religious customs. It is usually on the birthday ofthe tutelary saint that his fete is celebrated with religious and civil rejoicings. Except in the smallerProcessions centres church processions are no longer allowed in the streets, but wherever suchprocessions still take place in the open they are invariablya picturesque and attractive sight. More often than not they. Italy at Play 265 occur after sunset by torchlight, which adds to the effect andshrouds the frequent tawdriness of dress and of the old church banners, lamps and brocades, however,that are borne on these occasions, are splendid heirloomsthat many an antiquity collector now covets in vain, as thenew laws prohibit the sale of church properties. To walkin the procession is still esteemed a high distinction in thesmaller places, and parents will save and scrape to providetheir little ones with the outfit for an angel, a John the Baptist,a St. Catharine, a monk or a nun; and very pretty do theselittle ones look in their rig out, and wonderful often is theirphysical endurance, for they may walk for hours under the hotsun or in the late evening. Now and again a little angel or aSt. John will give out, and will be carried awhile in hisfathers stalwart arms, making a comic and incongruouspicture. As a rule these fetes end in a general illumination
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